Website hosting and support: what you pay for

A website is not finished when it launches. It sits on a server, runs on software that needs updating, and depends on a lot of small things staying in working order. Hosting and support is the part that looks after all of that. It is easy to treat it as a cost to minimise, so here is what you are actually paying for, and what to ask any provider.

Hosting: where the site lives

Hosting is the computer your website runs on. The quality of it affects how quickly pages load, how reliably the site stays up, and how well it copes with a busy day. The cheapest hosting is often shared with hundreds of other sites, and it shows when they get busy.

What good hosting includes

• Reliable uptime, with the server monitored.
• Daily backups you can restore from.
• A security layer and a valid security certificate (the padlock).
• Reasonable speed, with caching switched on.
• Email that works, or a clear separation from your website.

Updates: the unglamorous bit

A WordPress site depends on the core software, the theme and plugins. Each gets updates, many of which fix security problems. If they are left, the site gradually becomes less secure and more likely to break. Updating them safely, with a backup first and a check afterwards, is much of what a support plan is for.

Security and backups

Most attacks on small business sites are automated and aimed at outdated software. Keeping things updated, using sensible protection and keeping backups means that if something does go wrong, you can restore the site rather than rebuild it. Ask where the backups are kept and how quickly they can be restored.

Support: someone to ask

When a page breaks, a form stops sending or you need a quick change, the question is who you can call and how quickly they respond. A support plan sets that out: what is included each month, how to ask, and what counts as extra. It is worth knowing the limits before you need it.

Questions to ask a provider

• Who owns the account, the domain and the website?
• How often are backups taken, and how do I get one restored?
• Who does the updates, and how often?
• What is included in support and what is charged extra?
• What happens if I want to move away?

What it looks like with me

I host and look after the sites I build, with updates, backups and a monthly allowance of support time included, so you have a person to ask who already knows your site. You can see what is included on the hosting and support page, or ask me a question if you are weighing it up against what you have now.